Have you ever put off car repairs, only to face more serious problems later on? Did you regret not acting sooner? If you’re like most people, probably so. The same is true for your smile. Not restoring a damaged or decayed tooth with a custom dental crown can lead to costlier, more extensive treatment down the road. Why wait when you can get the care you need now? Read on to discover how using your dental insurance benefits can make it easier to pursue restorative treatment before the end of the year.
What Can Happen to Your Oral Health If You Wait to Receive a Dental Crown?
You can certainly come up with many reasons not to get a dental crown right now, but none are worth the risk. Your oral health is important, and waiting for a “better time” to seek treatment will only backfire in the end.
Your dentist is likely recommending a dental crown because you have a badly decayed or damaged tooth, but if you decide not to pursue restorative care, you might end up:
- With additional damage because your weakened tooth has nothing to protect it. If it continues to break down over time, your only options will eventually be a root canal or tooth extraction.
- Exposing your tooth to more harmful bacteria that spread deeper into your tooth, causing worsening decay and infection.
- With irritated soft tissues caused by your damaged tooth’s rough or broken exterior.
Why Get the Dental Crown Now Instead of Later?
If you’re still not convinced why you should give your dentist the go-ahead to plan for dental crown placement, consider the advantages of seeking treatment now instead of later. Naturally, saving your tooth from possible extraction is one of the most popular reasons, but there are others you may not have considered:
- Most dental insurance companies cover 50% of the cost of dental crowns. If you’ve met your annual deductible, you will pay less out of pocket. As a restorative treatment, your insurance carrier will likely pay a portion to help reduce your expenses as you work to improve your oral health.
- If you wait until next year to get your dental crown, you’ll have to pay your deductible again before your insurance agrees to pay more. Benefits don’t roll over at year’s end, so unused funds go back to your insurance company, and your deductible resets to $0.
Don’t wait until next year to get the dental crown you need now. You’ll enjoy a healthier smile as you approach the upcoming holidays, and you’ll also have more money in your pocket thanks to your dental insurance benefits – now that’s a win-win situation!
About the Author
Dr. Josh Branco graduated from Boston University with his dental degree before completing a post-doctoral general practice residency at UNR School of Medicine. He and fellow dentist, Dr. Annie Kim, oversee Sage Dental Care, providing patients with the most advanced dental solutions available. If you need a dental crown to restore a damaged tooth, we can provide traditional restorations or CEREC same-day crowns for faster results. Visit our website or call (775) 677–0790 to schedule an appointment to discuss your options.